F. Michael Maloof

The Obama administration's interest in showing patience and offering to open direct talks with Iran – to the consternation of Israel – may not only revolve around Tehran's nuclear development program.

Instead, Washington may be looking to Iran to allow U.S. supplies to cross its territory to reach American and other NATO troops in Afghanistan and to work together to defeat the Taliban. In 2001 and 2002, Iran helped the U.S. defeat the Taliban following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

....Alternative routes to the current passage of logistical supplies through Pakistan are limited. Tajikistan offers a viable alternative, but the government there has been unresponsive to U.S. requests to run supplies through the country. The concern by Tajik officials is the negative response from Russia to helping the U.S. create a presence in an area which Moscow regards as being in its sphere of influence.